Make it British is introducing a series of free seminars for 2017 to explore “partnerships, production and provenance” in UK manufacturing at this year’s Meet the Manufacturer event at The Old Truman Brewery, London on 24 and 25 May. 

“One of the key reasons for coming to our event is to network, not only with manufacturers but also with your industry peers. These free drop-in seminars will provide the perfect opportunity to explore all aspects of the industry with an inspiring line up of speakers who will be offering advice based on their real-life experiences,” explained Kate Hills, CEO and founder of Make It British.

Innovation meets heritage

With a growing surge of opinion that a new industrial revolution is upon us, innovation will meet heritage as Simon Cotton of Johnstons of Elgin teams up with Hal Watts of Unmade to illustrate how a partnership between one of the UK’s most innovative manufacturers with one of the oldest is good for business. 

Johnstons of Elgin is one of the oldest textile manufacturers in the UK and has been making fine woollen cloth, knitwear and accessories in Scotland since 1797. In stark contrast, Unmade launched in 2013, using technology to bring mass customisation to the textile industry.

Other inspiring speakers include:

• Husband and wife team, Kate and Graham Holbrook from Turtle Doves on How to make a million with an old sewing machine and a design idea
• Harriet Wallace-Jones and Emma Sewell launched their highly individual UK-based woven textile design studio – Wallace Sewell – after graduating from the Royal College of Art in 1990 and will be sharing the secrets of Building a good partnership with your manufacturer
• Joan Johnston has for over 25 years been engaged in both creative and commercial roles within British luxury textiles and will discuss the importance of using provenance to engage the consumer from a national and global perspective
• Deborah Maxwell from Nottingham-based law firm, Potter Clarkson, covering the hot topic of Intellectual property in the fashion and textile industry

Meet the Manufacturer

Kate Hills launched Meet the Manufacturer in 2014, a trade show and conference for the UK fashion and textiles industry.

The event brings together British manufacturers with buyers and designers looking to have their products made in Britain. The inaugural event featured high-profile speakers, such as Mary Portas and Eve Pollard and attracted nearly 3000 visitors.

www.meetthemanufacturer.co.uk